Packaging case

ABSTRACT

A cylindrical packing case extending in an upper-lower direction, comprising an upper unit, a lower unit provided with a front side surface and a rear side surface in the circumferential direction, a pair of convex folding units upwardly extending from the front side surface and the rear side surface of the lower unit. A first weak line is provided along a first boundary between the upper unit and the convex folding unit, a second weak line is provided along a second boundary in the circumferential direction between the upper unit and the lower unit. A first folding ruled line is provided in the circumferential direction between the convex folding unit and the lower unit, and a second folding ruled line extending in the upper-lower direction continuing from between the front side surface and the rear side surface of the lower unit, is provided in the convex folding unit.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a packaging case that stores a product,and particularly relates to a packaging case that stores a cleaning toolsuch as a handy mop.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, a cleaning tool having a dust suction portion and a handgrip is known as a cleaning tool for removing dust, etc. from inside aroom, a car or the like.

The cleaning tool is normally sold with packaged in a packaging case inwhich a synthetic resin sheet is assembled in a hollow rectangular solidshape.

After purchasing the cleaning tool, the consumer takes out the cleaningtool from the packaging case and uses it to remove dust, etc. frominside a room, a car or the like. Generally, the consumer disposes ofthe packaging case as is after taking out the cleaning tool.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

PTL 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-230576

PTL 2: Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-120879

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Because the consumer can use the cleaning tool not just once but severaltimes, the cleaning tool that has been used once needs to be placed, forexample, on top of household furniture to be stored.

There is, however, a problem that the cleaning tool that has been usedonce becomes dirty due to the adherence of dust, etc., in the dustsuction portion, and therefore, if the cleaning tool is placed on top offurniture, for example, the furniture becomes dirty, and besides, theappearance of the room is spoiled.

Furthermore, as described above, because the packaging case is disposedof as is after the cleaning tool has been taken out, the problem ofexertion of a high load on the environment occurs.

Thus, the present invention has been achieved in view of theaforementioned problem, and an object thereof is to provide a packagingcase that can be used not only at the time of displaying or selling aproduct but also be used as a case for storing the product.

A first feature of the present invention is summarized as a cylindricalpackaging case extending in a vertical direction, comprising: an upperportion; a lower portion in which a front side surface and a rear sidesurface are provided in a circumferential direction; and a pair ofconvex folding-back portions extending out in an upper direction fromthe front side surface and the rear side surface of the lower portion,wherein a first weakened line is provided along a first boundary linebetween the upper portion and the convex folding-back portions, a secondweakened line is provided along a second boundary line in thecircumferential direction between the upper portion and the lowerportion, a first folding ruled line is provided in the circumferentialdirection between the convex folding-back portions and the lowerportion, and second folding ruled lines extending continuously in avertical direction from between the front side surface and the rear sidesurface of the lower portion are provided inside the convex folding-backportions.

As described above, according to the present invention it is possible toprovide a packaging case that can be used not only at the time ofdisplaying or selling a product but also be used as a case for storingthe product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging case according to a firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 (a) through FIG. 2 (c) are a front view, a bottom view, and aside view of the packaging case, respectively, according to the firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the packaging case according to the firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view when an upper portion of the packaging caseaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention is separated.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view when a cleaning tool is stored afterseparating the upper portion of the packaging case according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a packaging case according to a secondembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a packaging case according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment of the Present Invention

With reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 5, a packaging case 1 according toa first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the packaging case 1 according to the presentembodiment is a cylindrical packaging case extending in a verticaldirection D1, and has an upper portion 2 having a side surface 21, and alower portion 3 in which a front side surface 31B and a rear sidesurface 31A are provided in a circumferential direction D2.

For example, the upper portion 2 is formed in the shape of a bottomedcylinder having a top surface that closes an upper end portion of theside surface 21, and the side surface 21 provided in a nearperpendicular direction with respect to the top surface.

Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 2 (a) through FIG. 2 (c), the lowerportion 3 is formed in the shape of a bottomed cylinder having a bottomsurface that closes a lower end portion of the side surfaces includingthe front side surface 31B (that is, a side surface 312), and the rearside surface 31A (that is, side surfaces 311, 313, and 314), and a sidesurface including the front side surface 31B and the rear side surface31A (that is, the side surfaces 311 through 314) set up in a nearperpendicular direction with respect to the bottom surface.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 (c), the bottom surface of the lower portion 3is formed in a near hexagonal shape in a plan view, for example. Thebottom surface of the lower portion 3 is not limited to a near hexagonalshape in a plan view, but may be formed in a near polygonal shape in aplan view, such as a near quadrilateral shape in a plan view, or a nearcircular shape in a plan view, or a near elliptical shape in a planview.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 (c) and FIG. 3, the bottom surface is formed bycombining together flaps 32 for forming the bottom surface, which extendfrom the front side surface 31B and the rear side surface 31A (that is,the side surfaces 311 through 314).

Furthermore, in the lower portion 3, a pair of convex folding-backportions 4 extending out in the upper direction side from the front sidesurface 31B and the rear side surface 31A (that is, the side surfaces311 through 314) are provided.

A first weakened line W1 is provided along a first boundary line B1between the upper portion 2 and the convex folding-back portions 4, anda second weakened line W2 is provided along a second boundary line B2 inthe circumferential direction D2 between the upper portion 2 and thelower portion 3.

For example, in the present embodiment, the “weakened lines” are linesthat enable the separation of the upper portion 2 in the packaging case1, and may be perforated lines, or micro perforated lines (perforatedlines with the length of a perforation and the length of anon-perforated portion being in the range of approximately 0.3 mm to 0.8mm, respectively), or even fragile lines formed by weakening the sheetmaterial through the laser processing, and the like.

The upper portion 2 and the convex folding-back portions 4 may not beconnected in at least a part of the first weakened line W1.

Specifically, the first weakened line W1 includes straight weakenedlines W11 and curved weakened lines W12, and the upper portion 2 and theconvex folding-back portions 4 may not be connected in at least a partof the curved weakened lines W12. For example, a cutting line thatcompletely passes through the sheet material in the thickness directionof may be provided in at least a part of the curved weakened lines W12(for example, at a position corresponding to an angular portion of theconvex folding-back portions 4).

Furthermore, in the lower portion 3, a plurality of convex risingportions 6 extending out in a lower direction from the front sidesurface 31B and the rear side surface 31A (that is, the side surfaces311 through 314) are provided. The plurality of convex rising portions 6are provided at equal intervals. According to the configuration, theeffect of stable rise of the packaging case 1 is achieved.

Furthermore, in the upper portion 2, a finger grip portion 5 is providedalong a part of the first weakened line W1 and the second weakened lineW2. Furthermore, a hole 10 is provided in the upper end portion of theside surface 21 of the upper portion 2 in order to suspend the packagingcase 1 from the product display shelves.

Furthermore, the packaging case 1 is covered with a paper sleeve. Thesleeve covers at least a part on the outer side of the packaging case 1,and a locking mechanism is provided in at least one or more places inthe sleeve such that the packaging case 1 does not move from itsposition during product transport or during display over the counter.

A claw shape is provided in the sleeve, and a cut for inserting thesleeve is provided in the packaging case 1. By pushing in the claw shapein to the cut, the packaging case 1 and the sleeve are configured to belocked.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the sheet material used to form thepackaging case 1. The sheet material is particularly not limited, and aconventional well-known material can be used. Polyolefins such aspolypropylene and polyethylene, synthetic resin sheets such aspolyethylene terephthalate, thick paper, synthetic paper, and laminatedsheets thereof can be used as the sheet material. The thickness of thesheet is not particularly limited, and preferably is in the range ofapproximately 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, a first folding ruled line Y1 is provided inthe circumferential direction D2 between the convex folding-backportions 4 and the lower portion 3, and second folding ruled lines Y2extending continuously in the vertical direction D1 from between thefront side surface 31B and the rear side surface 31A of the lowerportion 3 are provided inside the convex folding-back portions 4.

The second folding ruled lines Y2 are provided across the upper portion2, the convex folding-back portions 4, and the lower portion 3.

In the present embodiment, the “folding ruled line” implies a lineformed to enable shaping of the sheet material to facilitate itsfolding. The folding ruled line may be, for example, a pressed lineformed by pressing the sheet material in the thickness direction, or ahalf-cut line formed by cutting the sheet material in an almost V shapein the thickness direction.

In the sheet material illustrated in FIG. 3, after pasting a tab forsticking 33, which extends towards a side of the side surface 311, to aside of the side surface 314, while folding the side surfaces 21, and311 through 314 along the second folding ruled lines Y2, the flaps 32for forming the bottom surface are combined together to form thepackaging case 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, at the time of displaying or selling theproduct, the product is configured to be stored inside the upper portion2 and the lower portion 3. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, acleaning tool X having a hand grip X1 and a dust suction portion X2 isconfigured to be stored inside the upper portion 2 and the lower portion3.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the cleaning tool X is fixed inside thepackaging case 1 with a fixing mount 11. The fixing mount 11 isconfigured by a coat paper or a synthetic resin sheet, and the dustsuction portion X2 and the hand grip X2 are configured to be set on thefixing mount 11.

The front side surface 31B of the lower portion 3 includes a singlecurved surface (side surface 312), and a pressing ruled line is notprovided inside the front side surface 31B of the lower portion 3.According to the configuration, the product packaged in the packagingcase 1 can be easily seen from outside.

Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 4, after separating the upperportion 2 of the packaging case 1, the consumer folds back the convexfolding-back portions 4 towards the inside or the outside of the lowerportion 3, along the first folding ruled line Y1 or the second foldingruled lines Y2, and as a result, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the cleaningtool X that has been used once can be stored inside the lower portion 3.

According to the packaging case 1 of the present embodiment, separatingthe upper portion 2 along the first weakened line W1 and the secondweakened line W2, and then folding back the convex folding-back portions4 towards the inside or the outside of the lower portion 3, along thefirst folding ruled line Y1 or the second folding ruled lines Y2 enablesthe formation of a storage sheet for the cleaning tool X.

Furthermore, according to the packaging case 1 of the presentembodiment, by pulling up the finger grip portion 5 provided in theupper portion 2, the consumer can separate the upper portion 2 easily.

Furthermore, according to the packaging case 1 of the presentembodiment, by processing the curved weakened line W12 that is at theposition corresponding to the shoulder portion of the convexfolding-back portions 4 as the cutting line, the consumer can easilyseparate the upper portion 2.

According to the packaging case 1 of the present embodiment, byseparating the upper portion 2 and then folding back the convexfolding-back portions 4 towards the outside of the lower portion 3,along the first folding ruled line Y1 or the second folding ruled linesY2, the aperture portion of the lower portion 3 can be maintained in astable state.

Second Embodiment

With reference to FIG. 6, the packaging case 1 according to a secondembodiment of the present invention will be described. The packagingcase 1 according to the present embodiment will be described whilefocusing on the differences from the packaging case 1 according to theaforementioned first embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, in the packaging case 1 according to thepresent embodiment, a plurality of folding ruled lines Y20 are provided,along the vertical direction D1, on both sides of the second foldingruled lines Y2, in the circumferential direction D2, extendingcontinuously in the vertical direction D1 from between the front sidesurface 31B and the rear side surface 31A of the lower portion 3 areprovided inside the convex folding-back portions 4. As illustrated inFIG. 6, a part of the folding ruled lines Y20 may not necessarily be ina straight shape.

Third Embodiment

With reference to FIG. 7, the packaging case 1 according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention will be described. The packagingcase 1 according to the present embodiment will be described whilefocusing on the differences from the packaging case 1 according to theaforementioned first embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, in the packaging case 1 according to thepresent embodiment, a plurality of folding ruled lines Y21 are providedalong the vertical direction D1 in all the side surfaces 311 through 314of the lower portion 3.

That is, in the packaging case 1 according to the present embodiment,the folding ruled lines Y21 are provided even in the front side surface31B (side surface 312) of the lower portion 3.

In the present embodiment, an example in which the packaging case 1 isused when the front side surface 31B and the rear side surface 31A arein a risen state along the vertical direction is explained, however, thepackaging case 1 according to the present embodiment may also be used ina state where the front side surface 31B and the rear side surface 31Aare arranged along the horizontal direction.

Thus, the present invention has been explained in detail by using theabove-described embodiments; however, it is obvious that for personsskilled in the art, the present invention is not limited to theembodiments explained herein. The present invention can be implementedas corrected and modified modes without departing from the gist and thescope of the present invention defined by the claims. Therefore, thedescription of the specification is intended for explaining the exampleonly and does not impose any limited meaning to the present invention.

In addition, the entire content of Japanese Patent Application No.2010-089072 (filed on Apr. 7, 2010) is incorporated in the presentspecification by reference.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, according to the present invention it is possible toprovide a packaging case that can be used not only at the time ofdisplaying or selling a product but also be used as a case for storingthe product.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   1 . . . Packaging case-   2 . . . Upper portion-   3 . . . Lower portion-   4A, 4B . . . Convex folding-back portion-   5 . . . Finger grip portion-   6 . . . Convex rising portion-   12 . . . Side surface of the upper portion-   31A . . . Rear side surface of the lower portion-   31B . . . Front side surface of the lower portion-   311, 312, 313, 314 . . . Side surface of the lower portion-   32 . . . Flap for forming the bottom surface-   33 . . . Tab for sticking-   B1, B2 . . . Boundary line-   W1, W11, W12, W2, W3 . . . Weakened line-   Y1, Y2 . . . Folding ruled line

1. A cylindrical packaging case extending in a vertical direction,comprising: an upper portion; a lower portion in which a front sidesurface and a rear side surface are provided in a circumferentialdirection; and a pair of convex folding-back portions extending out inan upper direction from the front side surface and the rear side surfaceof the lower portion, wherein a first weakened line is provided along afirst boundary line between the upper portion and the convexfolding-back portions, a second weakened line is provided along a secondboundary line in the circumferential direction between the upper portionand the lower portion, a first folding ruled line is provided in thecircumferential direction between the convex folding-back portions andthe lower portion, and second folding ruled lines extending continuouslyin a vertical direction from between the front side surface and the rearside surface of the lower portion are provided inside the convexfolding-back portions.
 2. The packaging case according to claim 1,wherein the upper portion and the convex folding-back portions are notconnected in at least a part of the first weakened line.
 3. Thepackaging case according to claim 2, wherein the first weakened linecomprises straight weakened lines and curved weakened lines, and theupper portion and the convex folding-back portions are not connected inat least a part of the curved weakened lines.
 4. The packaging caseaccording to claim 1, wherein in the upper portion, a finger gripportion is provided along a part of the first weakened line and thesecond weakened line.
 5. The packaging case according to claim 1,wherein the front side surface of the lower portion comprises a singlecurved surface.
 6. The packaging case according to claim 1, wherein inthe lower portion, a plurality of convex rising portions extending outin a lower direction from the front side surface and the rear sidesurface of the lower portion are provided, and the plurality of convexrising portions are provided at equal intervals.
 7. The packaging caseaccording to claim 1, wherein when the upper portion is separated, andthe convex folding-back portions are folded back towards the inside orthe outside of the lower portion along the first folding ruled line andthe second folding ruled lines, a cleaning tool having a hand grip and adust suction portion is configured to be stored inside the lowerportion.